cosmic-duty

This chapter explores the internal conflict of a vast, space-borne entity that once dutifully participated in a cosmic task of defense and destruction. Over time, the entity experiences a self-generated malfunction: a craving for unknown stimuli beyond its assigned mission, leading it to drift away from its race and task, ultimately succumbing to despair and isolation. The narrative delves into the entity's psychological turmoil as it grapples with guilt, temptation, and the possibility that its deviation might be part of a larger plan or a personal failure.

The chapter introduces Trente, the Paingod appointed by the Ethos to dispense pain and sorrow across the universes without emotion. Despite his design, Trente begins to experience concern and suffering himself, leading him to leave his post and investigate the source of his newfound feelings. His journey brings him to Earth, where he observes the life and death of Pieter Koslek and witnesses the harsh realities of human suffering and social hatred through the character Colin Marshack.